Chuck Carree - For Travis Wilson, enforcing the law makes sense

Published: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 12:12 a.m.

Travis Wilson waived his final two seasons of football eligibility at Appalachian State for an unpaid internship. He worked two jobs to make ends meet.

Fueled by lessons learned in Rose Hill from mother Lisa, father Tarvis and high school coach Jack Holley, Wilson had motives for discontinuing as a walk-on running back.

“My goal is to be somebody,’’ said Wilson, who transferred to ASU after one year as strictly a student at Elizabeth City State.

Coupled with three years at ASU, he will graduate May 12 with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. He receives the diploma six days after finishing a 40-hour-a-week internship that began in January in Watauga County district attorney Jerry Wilson’s office.

To get by, Travis works 30 hours a week at nights for Wal-Mart and 25 hours on weekends as a vendor for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Boone.

“Working basically three jobs, I learned a lot from football and basically from what coach Holley taught me,’’ Wilson said.

I met Wilson at Holley’s home in Teachey several years ago after he saw spot duty for the Mountaineers. He played for Holley at Harrells Christian Academy, where, as a senior, Wilson scored 60 touchdowns and amassed 2,075 all-purpose yards.

As a freshman, however, Wilson considered Holley intimidating, yet noticed a level of respect from players toward the coach.

Over time he was no longer terrified of Holley and heeded his advice of applying the same enthusiasm in the classroom as on the football field.

“That’s where I learned to balance things in life with football,’’ he said. “He taught me how to be a man.’’

“I now apply everything I learned on the field, as far as being disciplined,’’ Wilson continued. “I also apply preparing for a job in the workplace just like getting ready for a game.’’

Wilson seems to have a winning personality. Take Jerry Wilson, for example. According to Travis, he has volunteered to recommend him for jobs with the State Bureau of Investigation and State Highway Patrol.

Travis’ long-range aim is to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In his internship, Travis assists with DWI cases and helps judges with courtroom decorum as well as fields phone questions.

The educational training program allows him to meet district and superior court judges as well as Sherry Perry, an investigator in the district attorneys’ office.

“A judge also says I will be a valuable asset to the state,’’ Travis said. “That means a lot and that is a compliment I will never forget.’’

The internship is the only schooling the 23-year-old Wilson has left, but to complete the training he must write a 20-page paper detailing the experience.

“Elders tell me this is the best thing I can do and I am just trying to get my name out there,’’ he said.

Upon graduation, his immediate goal is to join the SBI; if it falls through, attend highway patrol school, which he already started prepping for in October.

Because of his upbringing, Travis has demonstrated exemplary behavior – no drug experimentation, nor misdemeanor or felony arrests. His worst offense was sneaking out of the house to visit his girlfriend.

“I just want to give back to the community,’’ Wilson explained. “I want to stop crime. I have practiced that my whole life.’’

Staff writer Chuck Carree can be reached at 343-2262, chuck.carree@starnewsonline.com or Twitter@StarNewsOnline.com.

<p>Travis Wilson waived his final two seasons of football eligibility at Appalachian State for an unpaid internship. He worked two jobs to make ends meet.</p><p>Fueled by lessons learned in Rose Hill from mother Lisa, father Tarvis and high school coach Jack Holley, Wilson had motives for discontinuing as a walk-on running back. </p><p>“My goal is to be somebody,'' said Wilson, who transferred to ASU after one year as strictly a student at Elizabeth City State.</p><p>Coupled with three years at ASU, he will graduate May 12 with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. He receives the diploma six days after finishing a 40-hour-a-week internship that began in January in Watauga County district attorney Jerry Wilson's office.</p><p>To get by, Travis works 30 hours a week at nights for Wal-Mart and 25 hours on weekends as a vendor for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Boone.</p><p>“Working basically three jobs, I learned a lot from football and basically from what coach Holley taught me,'' Wilson said.</p><p>I met Wilson at Holley's home in Teachey several years ago after he saw spot duty for the Mountaineers. He played for Holley at Harrells Christian Academy, where, as a senior, Wilson scored 60 touchdowns and amassed 2,075 all-purpose yards.</p><p>As a freshman, however, Wilson considered Holley intimidating, yet noticed a level of respect from players toward the coach.</p><p>Over time he was no longer terrified of Holley and heeded his advice of applying the same enthusiasm in the classroom as on the football field.</p><p>“That's where I learned to balance things in life with football,'' he said. “He taught me how to be a man.''</p><p>“I now apply everything I learned on the field, as far as being disciplined,'' Wilson continued. “I also apply preparing for a job in the workplace just like getting ready for a game.''</p><p>Wilson seems to have a winning personality. Take Jerry Wilson, for example. According to Travis, he has volunteered to recommend him for jobs with the State Bureau of Investigation and State Highway Patrol.</p><p>Travis' long-range aim is to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.</p><p>In his internship, Travis assists with DWI cases and helps judges with courtroom decorum as well as fields phone questions.</p><p>The educational training program allows him to meet district and superior court judges as well as Sherry Perry, an investigator in the district attorneys' office.</p><p>Donald Ray, an advisory board representative, helped Wilson with a résumé.</p><p>“A judge also says I will be a valuable asset to the state,'' Travis said. “That means a lot and that is a compliment I will never forget.''</p><p>The internship is the only schooling the 23-year-old Wilson has left, but to complete the training he must write a 20-page paper detailing the experience.</p><p>“Elders tell me this is the best thing I can do and I am just trying to get my name out there,'' he said.</p><p>Upon graduation, his immediate goal is to join the SBI; if it falls through, attend highway patrol school, which he already started prepping for in October.</p><p>Because of his upbringing, Travis has demonstrated exemplary behavior – no drug experimentation, nor misdemeanor or felony arrests. His worst offense was sneaking out of the house to visit his girlfriend.</p><p>“I just want to give back to the community,'' Wilson explained. “I want to stop crime. I have practiced that my whole life.''</p><p><i></p><p>Staff writer <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic16"><b>Chuck Carree</b></a> can be reached at 343-2262, chuck.carree@starnewsonline.com or Twitter@StarNewsOnline.com.</i></p>